Johnnie Tolan
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Tolan was an American
racecar driver.
races in 1946, and won the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association championship. Tolan repeated his championship in 1947, and scored 47 wins. He had 27 feature wins in 1948.
He captured the 1950 AAA
Midwest championship. He captured his first National Midget championship in 1952, as well as the Midwest championship. He won the 1953 Night Before the 500 midget car race.
He competed at the Indianapolis 500
in 1956
, 1957
, and 1958
. His best finish was thirteenth in 1958.
Tolan traveled with Bob Tattersall and Jimmy Davies
to Australia
in 1964. Tolan suffered career ending back injuries at the Sydney Showgrounds.
Tolan had a ritual at each midget racing event. He would smoke a cigarette during warmups. He would flip the cigarette toward the starting line on his first high speed lap. He believed that he would have a successful night if he hit the mark.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racecar driver.
Racing career
Tolan won 45 midget carMidget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
races in 1946, and won the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association championship. Tolan repeated his championship in 1947, and scored 47 wins. He had 27 feature wins in 1948.
He captured the 1950 AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
Midwest championship. He captured his first National Midget championship in 1952, as well as the Midwest championship. He won the 1953 Night Before the 500 midget car race.
He competed at the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
in 1956
1956 Indianapolis 500
The 1956 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Wednesday, May 30, 1956 at Indianapolis. It was the third round of the 1956 World Drivers' Championship....
, 1957
1957 Indianapolis 500
The 1957 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Thursday, May 30, 1957 at Indianapolis. The event was the third round of the 1957 World Drivers' Championship and the first round of the 1957 USAC Championship Car season.- Classification :- Notes :...
, and 1958
1958 Indianapolis 500
The 1958 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Friday, May 30, 1958 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the fourth round of the 1958 World Drivers' Championship....
. His best finish was thirteenth in 1958.
Tolan traveled with Bob Tattersall and Jimmy Davies
Jimmy Davies
Jimmy Davies was an American racecar driver in Champ cars and midgets. He was the second man to win three USAC National Midget Championships....
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1964. Tolan suffered career ending back injuries at the Sydney Showgrounds.
Tolan had a ritual at each midget racing event. He would smoke a cigarette during warmups. He would flip the cigarette toward the starting line on his first high speed lap. He believed that he would have a successful night if he hit the mark.
Indy 500 results
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